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Cowboy Boots

Messages
11,380
Location
Alabama
Every so often I'll look through some makers that have an online presence, often just to see if they're still there. Many aren't. Paul Bond was always a mainstay, even through Bond's death, multiple management changes, "website redesigns" and apparent mismanagement, they stuck around.

I had not been on their site for awhile and a couple of weeks ago I looked them up and found nothing. No online presence at all, not even a phone number. Their FB page hadn't had an update since 10/23 when they announced they were under new management and a notice from Meta on 06/24 showed a notice that they were shutting their FB page down if 'certain' corrections weren't made. There was zero information regarding a closing. I figured they were done.

Today, I went back to their FB page and found this from Paul Bond.com, Paul Bond Boots | Dandy Little Boots and a few updates. It seems the barn did close for awhile but is open again. Still no website.
 
Messages
11,380
Location
Alabama
Unless you're a boot geek, collector or have had some TX boots made before 2017, you've probably not heard of this maker. I was surprised to see a couple of pair show up on OFAS. I won't bore the uninterested with facts about him but I've provided a couple of links. I will say that he made boots for 7 Presidents as well as Queen Elizabeth. The list of folks is crazy for a guy that had a 'regular' job for 30 years.

Somebody owned a vineyard.
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Vintage Rocky Carroll Custom Grape Vine Cowgirl Boots 6-6.5 Texas Americana | eBay

Rocky Carroll Boots | Cigar Aficionado

RJ BOOTS (ROCKY CARROLL) | oldrebelboots
 

AbbaDatDeHat

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,851
Unless you're a boot geek, collector or have had some TX boots made before 2017, you've probably not heard of this maker. I was surprised to see a couple of pair show up on OFAS. I won't bore the uninterested with facts about him but I've provided a couple of links. I will say that he made boots for 7 Presidents as well as Queen Elizabeth. The list of folks is crazy for a guy that had a 'regular' job for 30 years.

Somebody owned a vineyard.
View attachment 628449
View attachment 628450
Vintage Rocky Carroll Custom Grape Vine Cowgirl Boots 6-6.5 Texas Americana | eBay

Rocky Carroll Boots | Cigar Aficionado

RJ BOOTS (ROCKY CARROLL) | oldrebelboots
I want to see Queen Elizabeth’s boots!!
May she rest in peace.
And Queen Elizabeth Taylor’s. Preferable in just boots!!
B
 

mullitt

One of the Regulars
Messages
100
Got a pretty “holy grail” pair of boots at an antique mall yesterday (for under $50!). 50s/60s Nocona boots, not quite peewee style but have all the characteristics I like about peewee boots. No inlay but the stitching is fantastic, good higher heel and great toe profile. I don’t really like the roper style flat heel and profile. Lightly worn, stored well. The leather is incredibly thick and these are HEAVY boots. IMG_1609.jpeg IMG_1610.jpeg IMG_1611.jpeg

IMG_1591.jpeg
 
Messages
11,380
Location
Alabama
Pretty cool, @mullitt. Finding something you prefer is most important and though simple, those boots are about as unique as they come for the era. White label Nocona's are rare enough now but this pair looks like a boot someone ordered when they did MTM/MTO boots. No toe wrinkles or bug, the heel you mentioned. Have you measured it? And the single row stitching I don't ever remember seeing on a stock boot. Somebody will want to call them ropers but they ain't.

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mullitt

One of the Regulars
Messages
100
Pretty cool, @mullitt. Finding something you prefer is most important and though simple, those boots are about as unique as they come for the era. White label Nocona's are rare enough now but this pair looks like a boot someone ordered when they did MTM/MTO boots. No toe wrinkles or bug, the heel you mentioned. Have you measured it? And the single row stitching I don't ever remember seeing on a stock boot. Somebody will want to call them ropers but they ain't.

View attachment 628742
About a 1 3/4" heel hight. Interesting thought about the MTO! The lack of toe bug combined with the toe profile and the leather used all lend credence to that theory and they're what I like about them!
 
Messages
11,380
Location
Alabama
The Bond family was a big extended family but I wonder if the business hasn’t recently been sold after George Bond’s death 3-4 yrs ago? I’m wondering if the 2 guys in the video at the link are the new owners?
I was wondering about the two guys as well. No mention of names anywhere that I could find. I wonder if the days of shops that size are over. Legendary closed a couple of years ago and looking around this morning, it looks like J. B. Hill has gone down. It was sold a couple of years ago.
 
The granddaughter’s 1st birthday celebration had a “First Rodeo” theme. Some members of my family had differs levels of commitment.

IMG_5065.jpeg


Top, then counter-clockwise:

My youngest daughter (mother of the guest of honor) in 1930s “Justin’s Make”.

My wife in Tecovas.

Me in Black Jack alligator hornback.

My oldest daughter in glitter Doc Martens — sort of a space cowgirl.
 
Messages
18,221
Picked these up and on the first day these white/pink lines appeared between the scales (?) of the Hornback Caiman

Black Cherry Walters from Luccheses

Is this something I should warranty?

View attachment 636366
It is what it is. Caiman is not as soft & as pliable as alligator. It is not very pliable & does not like to bend. You will need to constantly condition them to keep them as soft as possible.

Black cherry is common & not the greatest either. I had one pair (not caiman) & I had to start polishing them to keep them looking nice. Alternated between cordivan color polish & next time black polish. But don’t polish caiman as the pours get clogged up & will crack.
 
Messages
11,380
Location
Alabama
What HJ said along with the lack of flex in Caiman because it’s the boniest hide of all the reptiles used in boot making. Also, Caiman doesn’t take as well to the tanning and dyeing process in the same fashion as alligator and crocodile. Probably why there’s no color saturation in those seams.


Maybe get them warrantied or become proficient with q-tip polishing.
 

hardlyworkingman

One of the Regulars
Messages
101

any one have these? looking for a review/opinion
 

hardlyworkingman

One of the Regulars
Messages
101

any one have these? looking for a review/opinion

couldn't find any reviews. placed an order for these. fingers crossed.

my first roper boots.

on average, in a year, i wear pull on boots more than 50% of the time (muck boots) for outdoor work. its only a matter of time.
 
Messages
11,380
Location
Alabama
These Dixon boots have all the bells and whistles; inlay, overlay and stitching with a great butterfly design. Dixon boots were popular with the country stars back in 'the day'. Ernest Tubb was a customer and introduced Hank Sr. to them when he started making money. They're sought after by collectors but probably not to the degree the seller is hoping.

I think the seller is likely close on the age but not because of the postage date; it's the wrong box for the boots as the label shows it for a pair of golden brown tops over chocolate vamps and the size listed is 11 1/2. I like that the boots were just shipped in their box. It would be fun to know the name on that Nashville shipping address.
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Vintage Dixon Boot Company Custom Cowboy Boots. 1958 Production Year. Unicorn | eBay

Dixon's Boots has been revived a couple of times through the years and still exists but it's just the name.
Dixon Boots | Premier Cowboy Boot of Texas | EST. 1889 | Finest Boots
 

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